Modular seat system for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A modular seat system for a passenger compartment of a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, with at least one seat which includes a seat unit with a seating element and a seat back, a seat frame with at least one pair of essentially vertical support elements, at whose upper end a bearing structure is arranged on which the seat unit rests, and a fixing structure in the floor of the passenger compartment with at least two longitudinal rails, which have a predetermined spacing from one another, for accommodating the lower ends of the support elements. 
     In order to ensure a cost-effective and flexible fixing of standardized installation modules—in particular passenger seats—with different spacing of the mounting rails, there is provided a spacing device, which defines the spacing between the two support elements at their upper and/or lower end, so that the spacing of the support elements from one another is variable independently of the width of the seat unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from German Patent Application No. DE 10 2005 042 403.1 filed on Sep. 6, 2005.

The invention relates to a modular seat system for a passenger compartment of a vehicle and, in particular to the fixing of seats in a passenger aircraft on the cabin floor.

In the prior art, seats and other installation modules are fixed to mounting rails in the cabin floor, which generally run along the cabin. Other means of transport such as ships and coaches often also have such rails. In aircraft, standardised mounting rails—also referred to as seat rails—are installed at a predetermined distance from one another, whereby this distance can differ from aircraft type to aircraft type. The individual rail usually comprises a light metal profile with an upwardly dovetailed cross-section, into which cylindrical and plate-shaped counterparts can be introduced from above through circular openings and the latter can also be fixed. By means of a small longitudinal displacement, the plate piece is trapped in the rail and can then be clamped or fixed. On the other hand, the guide pin, which engages into one of the rail openings, undertakes the positioning along the rail. Various installation modules can thus be installed in the cabin in a straightforward and reliable manner by means of the rails, for which purpose two neighbouring rails are as a rule used. In the case of passenger aircraft, it is mainly the passenger seats that are fixed in the rails in a large number. In order to satisfy the high demands on stability especially in the event of a crash, the seats have a stable sub-structure matched to the rail geometry. For this purpose, the fixing points of the seat sub-structure must match the spacings of the rail openings in the longitudinal direction and the spacing of the rails in the transverse direction.

In practice, the problem arises that such seat modules can often only be installed in quite specific types of aircraft, since the spacing of the rails from one another varies from aircraft type to aircraft type, even in the case of different types from the same manufacturer. This is especially disadvantageous for those who employ the aircraft, i.e. airlines, since the structure of the seat sub-structure is different even in the case of identical seat upholstery, which ultimately gives rise to a different seat type. The existing seats, therefore, often cannot be used when aircraft variants are introduced, which gives rise to unnecessary costs. A further consequence of this is that the seat manufacturer has to offer different seat types and the batch size is therefore reduced, as a result of which the production per unit becomes more expensive.

A modular seat system for aircraft is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,659,402, wherein the seat has a primary seat structure and an integrated base plate, which is connected to the primary seat structure so as to be mechanically rotatable. The drawback with this prior art is the fact that the primary seat structure is mounted fixed and with predetermined dimensions on the base plate and consequently the actual seat is not sufficiently variable in its structural dimensions such that it can always ensure flexible installation in an aircraft.

The object of the invention is to ensure the cost-effective and flexible fixing of standardised installation modules—in particular passenger seats—with different spacing of the mounting rails and thus to enable a straightforward and standardised installation of seats, even when the rail spacing in the floor of the passenger compartment varies and in particular the width of the seat unit is incompatible with the rail spacing.

This problem is solved by the modular seat system with at least one seat having a seat unit with a seating element and a seat back, a seat frame with at least one pair of essentially vertical support elements, at whose upper end a bearing structure is arranged on which the seat unit rests, a fixing structure in the floor of the passenger compartment with at least two longitudinal rails, which have a predetermined spacing from one another, for accommodating the lower ends of the support elements, at least one seat brace, which defines the spacing between the two support elements at their upper end, and a bottom brace which ends in one and passes through the other of the two support elements, said bottom brace being anchored on each side in one of the two longitudinal rails. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein.

The idea underlying the invention is to fix the support elements of the seat to the bearing structure of the seat in such a way that the spacing of the support elements from one another is variable independently of the width of the seat unit.

The modular seat system according to the invention for a passenger compartment of a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, with at least one seat which comprises: a seat unit with a seating element and a seat back, a seat frame with at least one pair of essentially vertical support elements, at whose upper end a bearing structure is arranged on which the seat unit rests, and a fixing structure in the floor of the passenger compartment with at least two rails, which have a predetermined spacing from one another, for accommodating the lower ends of the support elements, is accordingly characterised by a spacing device, which defines the spacing between the two support elements at their upper and/or lower end, so that the spacing of the support elements from one another is variable independently of the width of the seat unit.

The modular seat system according to the invention preferably has one or more of the following features:

the bearing structure comprises at least one seat brace for connecting the support elements, which brace is fitted to the upper end of the support elements, it being fitted in a mobile fashion to at least one support element, so that the spacing of the support elements from one another is variable independently of the width of the seat unit;

a bottom brace is fitted to the lower end of the support elements, it being fitted in a mobile fashion to at least one support element, so that the spacing of the support elements from one another is variable;

each support element has two fixing elements at the lower end, which are arranged one behind the other, so that they essentially form a rectangle when the seat is installed;

a second seat brace is fitted, essentially parallel to the first seat brace, in each case to the upper end of the support elements;

an adapter plate is provided for the fixing of the support elements, which adapter plate is fitted to the lower end of the support elements, it being fitted in a mobile fashion to at least one support element, so that the spacing of the support elements from one another is variable independently of the width of the seat unit;

the adapter plate comprises guide pins for the positioning of the plate and/or clamping elements for the fixing of the plate in at least one rail;

the adapter plate comprises fixing points for installation modules at the plate upper side;

the guide pins and/or the clamping elements are mounted on the plate so as to be displaceable;

the adapter plate has holes for the fitting of the guide pins and/or slots for the fitting of the clamping elements;

the spacing between the holes corresponds to the rail spacings;

at least one of the slots is arranged in the adapter plate perpendicular with respect to the rails;

the slot length substantially corresponds to half the pitch of the rail openings;

the adapter plate has at least four clamping elements and two guide pins;

the adapter plate has two clamping elements and guide pins, two or more such plates being used for the fixing of an installation module;

the adapter plate is a light metal milled part, a plastics part or a high-strength casting;

the adapter plate has a further seat rail running at right angles to the flight direction.

An advantage of the modular seat system according to the invention consists, amongst other things, in the fact that the installation of the group of seats can take place more cost-effectively on account of the unified modular dimensions.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred embodiments, reference being made to the appended drawings.

In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through the cabin of a passenger aircraft;

FIGS. 2A to 2D show the mode of functioning of a mounting rail;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a front view and plan view of an embodiment of the frame-like adapter plate with seat module;

FIG. 4 shows the plan view of the adapter plate according to FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an assembly possibility for the adapter plate and rail according to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the adapter plate.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a perspective view of a further embodiment of the adapter plate.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view, from above, of two seats lying diagonally opposite one another with an embodiment of the seat frame according to the invention.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view, from below, of two seats lying diagonally opposite one another with an embodiment of the seat frame according to the invention with mounted seat.

FIG. 10 shows a front view of two seats lying diagonally opposite one another with the embodiment of the seat frame according to the invention.

The representations in the drawing are not true to scale. Identical and identically working elements are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.

The cross-section of a passenger cabin represented

in FIG. 1 shows a seat arrangement with 2- and 3-seat modules 1, which are mounted on mounting rails 2. In order to support cabin floor 3, there are provided apart from rails 2 additional bearing profiles 4, which do not however assume any mounting function for cabin modules. Depending on the cabin width and aircraft type, a different distribution of the floor with rails 2 and bearing profiles 4 can thus result, and this often leads to a situation where spacing “a” of rails 2 with respect to one another varies with types of aircraft. Rails 2 and bearing profiles 4 lie on transverse spars 5, which are fixed to ribs 6. Apart from the seat modules, other elements of the cabin equipment can also be installed. Rails 2 comprise in particular a light metal profile and, in the event of a crash, must withstand the high loads from the forces due to the mass of modules 1 fixed to the rails. As mentioned above, seat modules 1 are designed for a certain rail spacing “a”, so that a change in spacing requires a new seat type, and this gives rise to high costs on account of the large number of seats.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D show in general the mode of functioning of a mounting rail 2 in various views. T-shaped rail profile 2 is supported on transverse spar 5 (FIG. 1), where the forces from the loading of the rails and cabin floor 3 are transmitted outwards to rib 6 (FIG. 1). The lateral flanges of rail profile 2 serve to support floor 3, whilst the dovetail-shaped upper cross-section of rail 2 is provided for the fixing of cabin module 1. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show the foot part of a module 1, which carries a plate-shaped clamping element 8 and a cylindrical guide pin 9. Parts 8, 9 enter from above in each case into a circular rail opening 10, the positioning along rail 2 being performed by fixed pin 9. Since openings 10 are provided at regular pitches “t”, the displacement by a half pitch in the case of clamping elements 8 suffices to achieve the fixing and module/rail force transmission (see FIGS. 2C and 2D). The clamping takes place for example by raising element 8, as is indicated by an arrow (FIG. 2C). A plurality of guide pins 9 and clamping elements 8 with exact foot coordinates are therefore required for the fixing of installation module 1. A change in rail spacing “a” must therefore necessarily lead to a new sub-structure of module 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the front view and plan view of a frame-shaped design of adapter plate 7 according to the invention in combination with a 2-seat module 1. Adapter plate 7 carries fixing points for clamping elements 8, 8′ and guide pins 9, 9′, whereby positions 8′ present a variant of the fixing possibility with a rail spacing “a1”. Fixing points 11 for installation module 1 are provided at the upper side of adapter plate 7. Modules 1 can thus also be mounted with matching geometry of the base connecting points with different rail spacings “a”, “a1” and also off-centre. Large bending forces do not occur in adapter plate 7 on account of the adjacent position of force application points 8, 11, so that the plate has only a small overall height and can be produced in a lightweight construction. In the case of an off-centre fixing, the adapter plate must be dimensioned accordingly. Two guide pins 9 and 9′ suffice for the positioning in rails 2 with the shown frame design of adapter plate 7. Four clamping elements 8 are also provided corresponding to the four fixing points 11 of depicted seat module 1. Shown frame plate 7 with the possibility of positioning on two rails 2, 2′ merely represents a variant of various possible embodiments. Plates 7 can therefore readily come into consideration for more than two different rail spacings “a”, “a1”. Spacings “a”, “a1” can be designed as fixed or individually adjustable. Moreover, instead of the frame shape, an x-shaped design is also conceivable. Accordingly, different design embodiments, e.g. in a milled design, casting, plastics etc., also come into consideration. In particular, guide pins 9, 9′ and clamping elements 8, 8′ can also be fitted so as to be displaceable.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a narrow adapter plate 7. In contrast with the frame-shaped solution shown in FIG. 3, adapter plate 7 is split up here into two parts. For the example of seat module 1 shown above, the two front and rear fixing points 11 are supported in each case on a narrow adapter plate 7, which each have two clamping elements 8, 8′ and guide pins 9, 9′. As a result of the geometry of the holes and slots 12, 13 with spacings “b1” and “b2”, the possibility arises here of four different rail spacings “a1”, . . . , “a4” being able to be bridged by a plate 7. The variable assembly of guide pins 9, 9′ solely requires holes 12, 12′, whilst the fitting of clamping elements 8, 8′ takes place by means of slots 13, 13′, 13″. Slots are required, since—as explained above—clamping element 8 must first be introduced into rail 2, in order then to be shifted through half pitch “t”/2 of rail openings 10 into the clamping position. The slots can be arranged in adapter plate 7 in parallel or normal with respect to rails 2. The advantage of the narrow design of adapter plate 7 over the frame-shaped solution (see FIG. 3) lies in the saving on structure, even if more guide pins 9 are required overall.

FIG. 5 shows the possibility of assembly of adapter plate 7 and rail 2 via clamping element 8 and pin 9 by means of simple screw joints. For this purpose, the screw shanks merely need to be introduced into holes 12 and slots 13 provided for this. Adapter plate 7 is thus reliably fixed on rail 2.

FIG. 6 shows an adapter plate 7 with two rails 14 running at right angles to the flight direction, which rails are integrated into adapter plate 7. This design makes it possible to select in a variable manner the spacing of adapter plate 7 from components installed fixed (aircraft side panel etc.), even when standard modules or seats are used. In this way, it can be ensured that seat rail 2 has a spacing from this component with which a module present as standard could not normally be installed. Moreover, instead of a lateral displacement, the module or the seat can be rotated both in grids and also individually about its vertical axis as a result of the design of the seat rail.

FIGS. 7A and 7B each show a perspective view of an embodiment of the adapter plate according to the invention. The longer edge of plate 7 is referred to as the longitudinal edge in the following, and the shorter edge of adapter plate 7 is referred to as the transverse edge. FIG. 7A shows an adapter plate 7 which has holes 12 on its right-hand side which in each case are grouped into two groups of three. Holes 12 in each of the groups of three are arranged on a straight line parallel to the transverse edge. On the left-hand side, adapter plate 7 also has two groups of three holes 12. Here, however, the holes are arranged in the form of an isosceles triangle, the apex whereof forms the middle hole which lies closest to the transverse edge of adapter plate 7. The holes on the left-hand side and on the right-hand side of adapter plate 7 are in each case arranged at the same level with respect to the longitudinal edge of adapter plate 7. Adapter plate 7 can thus be used with different spacings between mounting rails 2 (not shown). If there is a smaller spacing between mounting rails 2, holes 12 on the right-hand side of adapter plate 7 and inner holes 12 on the left-hand side of adapter plate 7 are used. If the spacing between mounting rails 2 is larger, holes 12 on the right-hand side and outer holes 12 on the left-hand side are used.

FIG. 7B shows a further embodiment of adapter plate 7, wherein holes 12 are arranged in pairs on the right-hand side on a straight line parallel to the transverse edge of adapter plate 7. On the left-hand side, holes 12 are also arranged on a line parallel to the transverse edge of adapter plate 7. The spacing of the two holes 12 on the left-hand side from the transverse edge is somewhat greater than on the right-hand side. Provided beside the two said holes 12 on the left-hand side is a further hole 12 which lies closer to the transverse edge. Holes 12 on the left-hand side form a right-angled triangle, the two right-angle sides whereof lie parallel to the longitudinal edge and transverse edge of adapter plate 7. The two sides of the triangle parallel to the transverse edge and longitudinal edge of adapter plate 7 have a greater spacing from the edge than respective third hole 12. Holes 12 on the left-hand side of adapter plate 7 lie at the same level as holes 12 on the right-hand side of adapter plate 7.

The embodiment according to FIG. 7B is particularly well suited for seats with smaller dimensions in the direction of sight of the passenger and, moreover, is easier to produce than that according to FIG. 7A.

Both embodiments according to FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B have perforations in the middle section. The material used is reduced by these perforations and there is accordingly a weight saving.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show an embodiment in which, instead of an adapter plate 7, a linkage is used as a spacing device, in order to ensure the stability of the connection of the two support elements 15.

FIG. 8 shows in perspective view from above three rails 2 running in parallel, on which two seats are mounted which lie diagonally opposite one another. The seats are each mounted on two essentially vertically standing support elements 15. With a view to greater clarity, the actual seats with the seating surface and seat back are omitted in FIG. 8. In the left-hand part of FIG. 8, each support element 15 is mounted directly in one of rails 2. In the embodiment shown, support elements 15 each comprise two fixing feet, with which they engage into mounting rails 2. In the installed state, the fixing feet of a seat therefore form a rectangle. The two support elements 15, which are intended to carry a seat, are connected to one another in the embodiment shown in each case at their upper end by means of a seat brace 16 a as a spacing device, in order to ensure that they have a defined spacing from one another. The mounted seat, i.e. seating surface and seat back, can subsequently rest on this seat brace 16 a. Apart from a first seat brace 16 a, a second seat brace 16 b can be provided for a further improvement in the stability of the connection between vertical support elements 15, said second seat brace running parallel to first seat brace 16 a also substantially at the height of the seat. Both seat braces 16 a and 16 b are mounted in a mobile fashion on at least one of support elements 15. For this purpose, there is preferably provided for each seat brace 16 a and 16 b a hole in support element 15, in which seat brace 16 a and 16 b can slide more or less friction-free. During assembly, seat brace 16 a and 16 b is then fixed in the hole for example by means of a clamping screw, and any projecting part of seat brace 16 a and 16 b is cut off in order to prevent an obstruction at the side of the support element due to seat brace 16 a and 16 b. The possibility of displacement of seat brace 16 a and 16 b is indicated in FIG. 8 by a double arrow. With this embodiment of the spacing device, the spacing of support elements 15 can be freely adjusted independently of a seat, without the stability of the seat being restricted.

Seat brace 16 b preferably has a roll 16 c, on which the seat (not shown) subsequently to be mounted can be slid forwards or backwards, in order for example to adjust the inclination of the seat back by pulling forward or pushing back the seating surface. Seat braces 16 a, 16 b and optional roll 16 c are thus part of a bearing structure 17 for the seat to be mounted. Apart from this bearing structure 17, which already ensures a stable spacing between the support elements, bottom brace 18 as an additional part of the spacing device can be provided to further improve the stability of the seat structure, said bottom brace defining the spacing between support elements 15 in the same way as seat braces 16 a, 16 b. Moreover, bottom brace 18, which is located substantially at the height of the lower end of support element 15, can itself also be equipped with means (not shown) for the fixing in one of rails 2. This is shown in the right-hand part of FIG. 8. Apart from seat braces 16 a and 16 b with roll 16 c already described in connection with the left-hand part of FIG. 8, a bottom brace 18 is provided here, which ends in one of the two support elements 15. This bottom brace 18 is also arranged in a mobile fashion in support elements 15, which is indicated by a double arrow in FIG. 8, right-hand illustration. Whereas bottom brace 18 ends in one support element 15, it passes through the other of the two support elements 15 (on the left in the right-hand part of FIG. 8) and ends at the height of mounting rail 2. At the height of mounting rail 2, bottom brace 18 is anchored by a fixing element directly in rail 2 and fixed if need be. In contrast with the example of embodiment in the left-hand part of FIG. 8, it is thus possible with the embodiment in the right-hand part of FIG. 8 to select the spacing between support elements 15 completely free from the spacing of mounting rails 2, so that one is no longer bound by the spacing of rails 2.

The example of embodiment in the left-hand part of FIG. 8 with support elements 15 anchored directly in rail 2 is shown once again in a view from below in FIG. 9 for the purpose of further clarification. The four support elements 15 for two seats lying diagonally opposite one another are mounted on the three rails 2. Support elements 15 are connected in pairs by bearing structure 17 to seat braces 16. Lying on bearing structure 17 is a seating element 19, to which a seat back 20 is fitted. As can be seen in FIG. 9, with this embodiment of the modular seat system according to the invention there is the possibility of positioning the seats with seating element 19 and seat back 20 in the lateral direction independently of the spacing of rails 2 from one another. Due to the fact that seat braces 16 for the connection of support elements 15 are fitted at the upper end of support elements 15 in an (at least partially) mobile fashion, the spacing of the support elements can be changed independently of the width of the seat unit. Conversely, the seats can be freely positioned laterally independently of the spacing between the support elements. The fixing elements on the support elements, with which the latter are anchored in rails 2, essentially form a rectangle with a seat nearby.

FIG. 10 once again illustrates the laterally free positioning capability of the seats in a view of the group of seats from in front and from the rear. As can be seen, the two seats in this representation are not symmetrical with respect to middle rail 2, but shifted to the right. Both seating elements 19 rest on respective seat brace 16 and can slide on accompanying roll 16 c. A maximum degree of freedom in respect of the positioning of the seats is thus achieved.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 (cabin) installation module -   2 mounting rail, 2′ alternative rail -   3 cabin floor -   4 (floor) bearing profile -   5 transverse spar -   6 rib -   7 adapter plate -   8 clamping element, 8′ variant -   9 guide pin, 9′ variant -   10 rail opening (upwards; hole) -   11 fixing point installation module -   12 hole, 12′ variant -   13 slot, 13′ first variant, 13″ second variant -   14 transverse rail on adapter plate -   15 support element -   16 seat brace, 16 a first seat brace, 16 b second seat -   17 brace, 16 c reinforcement -   18 bearing structure -   19 bottom brace -   20 seating element -   21 seat back -   a rail spacing, a1, . . . , a4 variants -   t pitch of rail openings -   b1, b2 spacing of holes and slots (on one side of adapter plate) 

1. A modular seat system for a passenger compartment of a vehicle with at least one seat, which comprises: a seat unit with a seating element and a seat back; a seat frame with at least one pair of essentially vertical support elements, at whose upper end a bearing structure is arranged on which the seat unit rests; a fixing structure in the floor of the passenger compartment with at least two longitudinal rails, which have a predetermined spacing from one another, for accommodating the lower ends of the support elements; at least one seat brace, which defines the spacing between the two support elements at their upper; and a bottom brace which ends in one and passes through the other of the two support elements, said bottom brace being anchored on each side in one of the two longitudinal rails.
 2. The modular seat system according to claim 1, wherein the seat brace is fitted to the upper end of the support elements, and is configured to be mobile at at least one support element, so that the spacing of the support elements from one another is variable independently of a width of the seat unit.
 3. The modular seat system according to claim 1, wherein the bottom brace is fitted to the lower end of the support elements, and fitted in a mobile fashion to at least one support element, so that the spacing of the support elements from one another is variable.
 4. The modular seat system according to claim 1, wherein each support element has two fixing elements at the lower end which are arranged one behind the other, so that they essentially form a rectangle when the seat is installed.
 5. The modular seat system according to claim 1, wherein a second seat brace is fitted, essentially parallel to the first seat brace, in each case to the upper end of the support elements. 